Burkitt's cells can be triggered by teleocidin to secrete interferon-gamma

• Published in: American journal of hematology Vol. 22; no. 2; p. 169
• Main Authors: Benjamin, D, Hartmann, D P, Bazar, L S, Jacobson, R J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-1986
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Burkitt Lymphoma - metabolism; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Viral; Growth Substances - biosynthesis; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-1 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4; Lymphokines - biosynthesis; Lyngbya Toxins - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Neutralization Tests
• ISSN: 0361-8609
• DOI: 10.1002/ajh.2830220207

The secretion of interferon (IFN)-gamma by T lymphocytes is mediated by the synthesis of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and the availability of IL-2 receptors. Since some Burkitt's lymphoma lines express Tac antigen and can be triggered to secrete IL-2 following activation with the new tumor promoter teleocidin, we addressed the question of whether the induction of IL-2 by B lymphocytes is accompanied by the induction of IFN-gamma. IFN-gamma has not been detected in any of the 25 cell lines studied, and following stimulation with teleocidin, we triggered the synthesis of IFN-gamma in JLP(C), a pre-Burkitt's cell line. The mechanism of IFN-gamma secretion by B lymphocytes is not clear. Our findings demonstrate that the synthesis of IL-2 by B cells is not accompanied by IFN-gamma and suggest that the synthesis of IFN-gamma is not mediated by IL-2 or IL-1 or B-cell growth factor. Neutralization studies have shown that IFN-gamma secretion is not accompanied by the induction of IFN-alpha or IFN-beta. Our data imply that B cells can be triggered to secrete IFN-gamma under certain circumstances. Whether similar function occurs in vivo is not known.